McIlroy happy to avoid Westwood

RORY McILROY freely admitted he is glad he is not playing with Lee Westwood today. The two stablemates have not fallen out, but the 20-year-old came off second best when they went head-to-head in Dubai yesterday in their European Tour Order of Merit decider.

And that left McIlroy keen to get back to concentrating on his own game when battle resumes with them three groups apart in the second round.

Westwood, more than £114,000 behind entering the final lap, began the Dubai World Championship with a six under par 66 to be only a stroke behind Australian leader Robert Allenby. McIlroy matched his rival’s back nine 32, but had made the slower start and with a 68, is in a tie for fifth.